Murphy's Mom
Jul. 16, 2009, 03:51 PM
My miniature mare, Mocha, won't bend to the right. At all. If I lunge her she goes to the right completely counterbent (all gaits) - head and neck far to the left, body pretty much straight, no bend either way. When going to the left she is fine, nice arc from poll to tail. When driving, her head and neck are carried to the left.
She is ten years old. I got her last September as a pasture pet and just started working with her (driving) in May (she was already trained to drive when I bought her, I just needed to buy a harness and cart). Our goal is the county fair in late September. Since she is out of shape I have been working with her lightly - lunging, working on turns with the cart at a walk (serpentines, figure 8), short bits of slow and fast trot, lots of stretching (so much easier with a tiny horse!). The bending issue has been there since the beginning. It hasn't gotten any better, but doesn't seem to have gotten any worse. Her harness fits well, cart is balanced, teeth and feet are good.
Any ideas for exercises to help loosen her up? Stretching or massage techniques? We have no equine chiropractor or massage therapist anywhere near here. She can do carrot stretches on both sides. I don't see any obvious signs of an old injury (scars, muscle bulges). Thanks!
She is ten years old. I got her last September as a pasture pet and just started working with her (driving) in May (she was already trained to drive when I bought her, I just needed to buy a harness and cart). Our goal is the county fair in late September. Since she is out of shape I have been working with her lightly - lunging, working on turns with the cart at a walk (serpentines, figure 8), short bits of slow and fast trot, lots of stretching (so much easier with a tiny horse!). The bending issue has been there since the beginning. It hasn't gotten any better, but doesn't seem to have gotten any worse. Her harness fits well, cart is balanced, teeth and feet are good.
Any ideas for exercises to help loosen her up? Stretching or massage techniques? We have no equine chiropractor or massage therapist anywhere near here. She can do carrot stretches on both sides. I don't see any obvious signs of an old injury (scars, muscle bulges). Thanks!